Any basketball sim that calls itself a game has got to capture the flow of NBA action and the artistry of the greatest athletes in team sports. That means thunder dunks, lightning fast breaks and rain-like 3-pointers. Nobody does it better than Strat-O-Matic. Combine smooth, vivid, play with the most statistically accurate game available. Seriously Basketball – Strat-O-Matic.

For nearly 40 years, Strat-O-Matic has created the most realistic simulation of statistically accurate basketball. No other game combines Strat-O-Matic’s realism, statistical accuracy and ease of play. Why? Because no other game matches Strat-O-Matic’s in-depth research – hundreds of hours to recreate a season in supremely realistic detail.

It’s all here in ratings that bring pro basketball’s superstars – and role players – to life. The dominant big men, the outside shooters, the penetrating guards, the intimidating shot blockers, the pick-pocket defenders, the dazzling playmakers, the fast-break finishers all strut their stuff in a game so real it will give you a front-row seat to the action.

Strat-O-Matic Basketball is updated with the latest players every year. Or you can resurrect such basketball legends as Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Pistol Pete Maravich, “Dr. J” Julius Erving and Michael Jordan in our classic seasons for every era back to the 1960s. Every player is rated with statistical precision in every phase of his talent – shooting, passing, rebounding and defending. The real league leaders will be your top performers. Weak shooters, sloppy ball-handlers and foul-prone defenders will hurt your teams just as they did their real teams. Each player’s strengths – and weaknesses – will come into play.

Talk about interactive – YOU are the coach! Whether playing solitaire or joining the thousands playing Strat-O-Matic in leagues, face-to-face and online, YOU make the choices about who to play and when to match them up against which opponents. If you can find the right lineup chemistry, other players’ strengths will mask one player’s shortcomings. If not, you might have a team on the floor that can’t shoot the 3 or fast-break well when you need it. In Strat-O-Matic, the decisions you make all game long determine victory or defeat.

Easy enough to learn swiftly, Strat-O-Matic’s ability to capture all the variety of real basketball keeps gamers coming back for more – for decades.

Strat-O-Matic’s unequalled ease of play lets you enjoy basketball your way. Play stock teams or use the individual ratings to put together “What-If” fantasy teams. Play the computer game or the board game. Get the best of both by adding the Card Image option to your computer purchase – then see how each player’s skill (and your coaching decisions) affected the outcome on every possession. Set up your own playoffs or replay a full-season. The computer game includes every player who appeared in an NBA game that season. For board-game replays, most customers purchase the regular set of 300 player cards plus the 72 Additional Players, whose seasons were cut short by injury or played key roles as backup players. Order both the computer game and the cards and enjoy sharp discounts of more than 40 percent on the cards when you combine the purchase.

How to Play Strat-O-Matic Basketball (computer game)

Imagine yourself pacing the sidelines in front of an NBA bench, calling out the plays to the stars and supporting cast on the floor. Look for the 3. Run this play for the big man. Drive the lane to get the other team in foul trouble. Double-team the other team’s top scorer who’s been killing you. Press – the other team’s best point guard is on the bench.

Now you’re imagining the experience of coaching in Strat-O-Matic Computer Basketball. Each click takes you closer to the action involving the strengths and weaknesses of every player on the floor.

You’ll start by creating your own match-up of teams, or playing the built-in NBA schedule. Choose your lineups or let the computer do it. Design a plan to distribute the playing time, or let the computer do it in seconds – or wing it as the game evolves. Tailor your strategy both to max the skills of your own team (fast-break at every chance?) and to exploit the vulnerabilities of your human or computer opponent (double-team the only star? Sag to keep the ball away from the big man or defend close to prevent 3-pointers?).

When the game begins, you’ll be no mere spectator, but the coach dictating tempo and tactics. You’ll have to be alert to pick the right times to take the open outside J, or to drive the lane to draw fouls – at the risk of committing your own offensive fouls. No worries – if you are new to such a rich strategy game, Strat-O-Matic’s unique graphics will show you the high-percentage plays. The animation will show you the throw-down dunks.

If this is your first look at Strat-O-Matic Basketball, enjoy a stats report that’s got to be seen to be believed. Start with a highly detailed box score. Track the league leaders in per-game averages or per-48 minutes. The computer tracks season highs and lows, triple doubles, defensive stops, all-star rankings, the MVP vote and way more stuff.

Take advantage of the computer for Netplay (to play against anyone, anywhere), the Game Lobby (to find new opponents), the game’s blogging ability and the online forums where Strat-O-Matic Fanatics gather to share highlights, advice and fellowship.

How to Play Strat-O-Matic Basketball (board game)

Three games in one, Strat-O-Matic will have you playing the Basic game within minutes of opening the box and then entice you with the detailed player ratings and strategy options of the Advanced Game. For the fanatics who want the ultimate in pro-basketball realism, the Super-Advanced options offer a dozen additional strategies.

Each individually crafted player card – every one unique – will enliven your games. Feel the need for speed with a team built for the fast break. Tingle with anticipation when a superstar like LeBron James or Kobe Bryant goes one-on-one to the hoop. Sense the crowd jumping out of its seat when Steve Nash whips a dazzling pass or Dwight Howard throws down an alley-oop.

It starts with Strat-O-Matic’s unique Action Deck, which directs attention to the shooting, passing or defending skills of the key man on each possession. Because each player card is unique, one man’s perfect pass is another man’s turnover; one man’s defensive stop is another man’s ole´! Each team’s top guns will take more shots. Two six-sided dice are used for shots, when you literally hold the outcome in your hands. Then, a special six-sided black die will decide whether the shot comes from the offensive player’s card or the team defense card.

In the Advanced Game, the play results and strategy options expand rapidly. Now there are passes that find the open man and others – Dazzlers – that mean automatic baskets. The mental image of those plays are so strong, you’ll swear you can see them on the fast break! You’ll also position some players inside, others outside, depending on their ability. Choose wisely, because the defender who shuts down outside shooters often is vulnerable to a post-up player – and vice versa. Advanced play also introduces blocked shots – some shot-blockers are so intimidating that you’ll want a big man who can hit an open jumper to draw this defender outside.

Strat-O-Matic’s hallmark ease of play means you’ll be able to do all this in half the time it takes to watch a real pro basketball game. Our signature statistical accuracy will amaze you as the NBA’s stars are your leading scorers, rebounders and assist men, too.

Now it’s your chance to join the thousands of Strat-O-Matic Fanatics who keeping come back for more of Strat-O-Matic Basketball.